While suffering a little anxiety because of the crowd that showed up, I wasn't really surprised they filled the Araneta Coliseum. Puregold just held their OPMCon Generations 2026 concert, and I loved every bit of it.
The country's biggest acts went there, from Alamat, Flow G, Ben & Ben, Skusta Klee, Sunkissed Lola, XONARA, G22, KAIA, and my favorite guys from SB19 really performed their best in this big concert brought to us by the folks from Puregold. The amount of fun and happiness it brings to fans and ordinary pinoys was insurmountable. Generations who love their personal acts showed up and cheered on every time an artist went out on stage. Here's some of the acts I recorded on video:
Here is the one with new girl group XONARA managed by the folks from SB19, and the girls from KAIA
One of my favorite acts that evening was the one with G22. These ladies make me love going to concerts. Super happy about it!
There were a few rap artists that the crowd sang along with. I put my best focus on the guys from SB19 because my bias KEN was there! It just made this concert EPIC!
Folks were also treated with games and tons of Puregold groceries. It was an experience every Puregold customer would cherish. I loved every bit of it. I hope we get to do another one of these soon!
When I heard about Elisia Parmisano being in the Philippines, I immediately wanted to interview her before she went back to Korea. I'm a fan, a huge one since I was able to follow her journey in a reality show when they were starting to form UNIS (via SBS).
That time, her charm and knack for singing and dancing made her a frontrunner, taking top spot several times when voting happened. Mind you, the KPOP training wasn't for the faint hearted, and some really got stressed to the point they had to quit the show (well that's what I thought happened). I'm super glad though that at the end of it all, she was able to overcome all the challenges and took her rightful spot in UNIS, a global KPOP group!
Elisia says "I'm just really happy to be back in the Philippines and do a lot of activities and spend time with my family. I really got to spend a lot of time with my parents and my dogs, so I'm really happy. I was here last year for a vacation too, for a couple of weeks then I went back to Korea . I've been training there since I was 13, and I'm 17 now! Doing that is really fun and I've already adjusted, the people are so nice there."
When asked about her communication skills , she says "I'm still learning actively, but I can converse and crack jokes already. Even other members teach me from time to time."
About her life there, she says "It kinda varies every day. There are lessons I have to attend either as an individual or as a group. After having my hair and makeup done, we proceed to do shows or events afterwards."
She was also able to meet some of KPOP's brightest stars, including her personal idols. She mentions how formal they are when they see each other before and after performances, and how nice they are to her and the UNIS group.
Here's more of that interview:
Elsia is very optimistic that there will be more opportunities for her and their group UNIS. She also made sure to thank the EVER AFTERS for supporting them all these years, and the near future. They've got lots of plans in the pipeline but she chose to be pretty mum about it, I'm super excited for them especially for Elisia (and Gelee) who's doing an absolutely great job representing the Philippines in the global KPOP arena!
Maybe we'll see her do KDramas soon, let's manifest that!
The hunger for PPOP is certainly evident and with the Philippines answering with great artists, it's fun to know we've got a lot of them coming in the following months. Today is pretty special as we begin to get to know ZELA. She's a triple threat, one who can write songs, sing and dance. She is also based in the US but knows how this is an opportune time to do PPOP through her label AQ Prime Music. This was something she's been dreaming of since she was a kid, and now she has the chance to inspire more people through her genre of music!
Zela says "I want people to be empowered when they hear my music. I make them inspired with my experience, I'm a soloist and friends suggested I do it. Performing during the Waterbomb Festival last February was memorable because I met Jessie, a very popular artist in Korea. She told me I was very skinny, it was surreal because it was a chance to meet someone I idolized, and they asked who I wanted to meet, I always mention her name. The name Lockhart came from my last name, and it describes how I am with my goals (as I am locked in(, and women empowerment is very important for me. I want to use my platform to become the voice for those who don't have it. People mention how we kinda look like Sandara and I take it as a complement. I just think she's way prettier, and who wouldn't like that. My music video is also out on AQ Prime Music. The creatives also helped me make the concept a reality."
She adds "What sets me apart is the fact that I do everything on my own. I don't share my lines, I wrote most of the songs in the album. Specifically the 6 tracks, the other 4 I've worked with another composer too. I can do any genre, and don't have to consult. It gets super lonely sometimes but I just focus on goals so I don't have to think about it. We are here to lift each other, and there's always space on top."
She already debuted in 2023, and has been rewarded with a PPOP Top New Artist of the Year award. She's released her first single called "KARMA" during that time and has gotten really good traction with it. She also followed up with "POGI BOY" later in the year and gave her third one called "01/01" during her birthday. She deem this a great gift to her fans as she has wished for.
She also had the opportunity to do the 1st Waterbomb Festival last February and was the only PPOP Soloist act during the event. She is also releasing her new album "LOCKHART" that's got 10 tracks which she also wrote. The songs include ACE, Arangkada, ZL, GOAT, Paraiso, Chaos, Bababa, Hanap Ka Na Lang Ng Iba, and Leave Me.
She's raring to release these songs and make it known worldwide, she's absolutely ready to go! She sends her thanks to Atty. Aldwin Alegre and Atty. Honey Quiño for supporting her goals all these years. She credits them for the successes she's had and says she's excited for what plans they've got for her in the near future. Go stream it today on popular streaming platforms, I particularly like "Bababa" so make sure you listen to it!
